Permanently joined plate heat exchanger

Abstract

The present invention refers to a plate heat exchanger comprising a package of heat exchange plates (2), each having a peripheral portion (17) and with this a heat exchanger portion (9) and several port portions with through-flow ports forming inlet and outlet channels through the package. Said heat exchange plates (2) are permanently joined to each other along their peripheral portions (17) and at a variety of places in their heat exchange portions (9) in such manner that they leave flow passages between adjacent heat exchange plates (2), and between an outer line (13) and an inner line (14) located closer to the inlet and outlet channel, respectively. According to the invention means (19) is arranged to keep the port portions of the heat exchange plates together along the inlet and outlet channels, said means (19) being placed between said outer line (13) and the inlet or outlet channel along each of the inlet and outlet channels in the plate interspace communicating with said inlet and outlet channel, respectively.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. Plate heat exchanger comprising a package of heat exchange plates, each having a peripheral portion and within this a heat exchange portion and several port portions with throughflow ports, the heat exchange plates being permanently joined to adjacent heat exchange plates of the package both along their peripheral portions and at a variety of places in their heat exchange portions in such manner that they leave flow passages between adjacent heat exchange plates, the ports of the plates being aligned and forming first inlet and outlet channels through the package for a first heat exchange medium, which communicate with every other flow passage between the heat exchange plates, and second inlet and outlet channels through the package for a second heat exchange medium, which communicate with remaining flow passages between the heat exchange plates, and along each of the inlet and outlet channels the port portions of adjacent heat exchange plates which form a flow passage separated from the inlet and outlet channel, respectively., being permanently joined around the inlet and outlet channel, respectively, between an outer line and an inner line, located closer to the inlet and outlet channel, respectively, characterized by means arranged to keep the port portions of the heat exchange plates together along the inlet and outlet channels, said means being placed along each of the inlet and outlet channels in the plate interspaces communicating with said inlet and outlet channels, respectively, and in each such plate interspace being permanently connected to both of the heat exchange plates delimiting the plate interspace in question in an area around the inlet and outlet channel, respectively., located between said inner line and the inlet or outlet channel, itself. 
     
     
       2. Plate heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that each connecting means at least partly constitutes an integral part of a heat exchange plate. 
     
     
       3. Plate heat exchanger according to claim 2, characterized in that the heat exchange plates are made of thin material and by means of pressing are provided with projections on both of their sides., each connecting means comprises a projection being pressed out from the port portion of a heat exchange plate. 
     
     
       4. Plate heat exchanger according to claim 3, characterized in that the port portions of two adjacent plates, which port portions surround an inlet or outlet channel communicating with the flow passage formed by the plates, are placed in the end plates of the plates, located furthest from each other, and that each of the connecting means is formed of projections from two adjacent plates, which projections are permanently joined to each other. 
     
     
       5. Plate heat exchanger according to claim 4, characterized in that connecting means placed in the different sPaces between the plates, is arranged in line with each other PerPendicularly to the heat exchange plates along respective inlet and outlet channel. 
     
     
       6. Plate heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that each inlet and outlet channel is open at its one end and closed at its other end, and that an end plate placed at the said other end, has a non-penetrated port portion comprising connecting means, corresponding to said connecting means of the heat exchange plates, in areas around the inlet and outlet channels and stiffening portions pressed out within said connecting means. 
     
     
       7. Plate heat exchanger according to claim 6, to which an outer cover plate is placed close to the end plate, characterized in that said stiffening projections abut against the outer cover plate.